Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Opposition for raising this important issue and welcome the opportunity to speak on it. However, as the Deputies who put forward this motion would agree, there is no quick fix for a housing crisis. If one looks at the experience of different countries across Europe, after an economic downturn or a crash, there tends to be a housing crisis or an issue. Unfortunately for us, because of the building practices encouraged by the previous Government, it has exaggerated the problem here.

The Government’s focus has been on securing the economy, restructuring the banks while ensuring the public finances are secure and more people get back to work. The more people we have working, the more money we have to invest in social housing, health and education. We do have a housing problem, however, with which we are dealing. It would be very unwise of us to implement quick fixes such as relaxing regulations to allow houses to shoot up like they did several years ago. If that happened, we would end up with problems like pyrite in housing estates and schools that I have to deal with every day. It is absolutely devastating for the families involved, affecting their daily lives and, in some cases, their sanity. There would be issues such as those at Riverwalk Court, where people are living in apartments that are not fit to live in, and Priory Hall. These are issues which the Government is trying to deal with through housing policy and policy to help construction.

We have a tradition in Ireland where people like to own their home. I do not believe that will ever leave us. However, I meet people every day who are just trying to get into the rental market or social housing. The Government is trying to deal with this problem. I would liken it to the Department of Health where anything that has been asked of the Minister, he is trying to deliver on. Both Ministers in this regard are trying to implement several recommendations and already several measures have been implemented. There is also funding behind this. We need a period of nine to ten months during which rents do not increase. I welcome recent measures by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in that regard. It is not right when one sees a couple paying €1,200 for a one-bedroom apartment in Rathfarnham. We are trying to deal with problems left by the previous Government, among many other issues. It will take time to resolve this.

See this speech in context